Peptides and peptidomimetic compounds, the manufacturing thereof as well as their use for preparing a therapeutically and/or preventively active pharmaceutical composition

ABSTRACT

Peptides, peptidomimetics and derivatives thereof of the general formula I: 
                             H 2 N-GHRPX 1 - β -X 4 X 5 X 6 X 7 X 8 X 9 X 10 -X 11  (I),                   
in which
     X 1 -X 10  denote one of the 20 genetically coded amino acids, wherein X 8 , X 9  and X 10  may also denote a single chemical bond;   X 11  denotes OR 1  in which R 1  equals hydrogen or (C 1 -C 10 ) alkyl NR 2 R 3  with R 2  and R 3  are equal or different and denote hydrogen, (C 1 -C 10 ) alkyl, or
       a residue —W-PEG 5-60K , in which the PEG residue is attached via a suitable spacer W to the N-atom, or   a residue NH—Y-Z-PEG 5-60K , in which   Y denotes a chemical bond or a genetically coded amino acids from the group S, C, K or R and   Z denotes a spacer, via which a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-residue can be attached, and their physiologically acceptable salts, and   
       β denotes an amino acid, or a peptidomimetic element, which induces a bend or turn in the peptide backbone.

The present invention relates to peptides and peptidomimetic compounds,to the manufacturing thereof as well as to their use for preparing atherapeutically and/or preventively active drug and to such apharmaceutical drug.

EP1586586 describes the use of peptides from the sequence of fibrinpossessing anti-inflammatory effects.

Said effect may be based on the fact that the fibrin and fibrinfragments generated during the breakdown thereof bind to endothelialcells via its neo-N-terminus of the Bbeta-chain and to cells in thebloodstream via the sequence of the Aalpha-chain, thereby leading to theadhesion and transmigration of these cells into the tissue. The bindingpartner of the fibrin and fibrin fragments to the endothelial cells isthe protein vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin, which is expressedexclusively in the adherens junction between neighboring endothelialcells. The peptides according to the invention block this interactionand thereby counteract the transmigration of blood cells. The naturaldefense against infections by the leukocytes in the blood is notadversely affected, however. Thus, the composition of the same, such asgranulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes, remains unaffected so that thenatural defense process is maintained.

Fibrinogen is produced in the liver and, in this form, is biologicallyinactive and normally is provided in the blood at concentrations ofaround 3 g/l. Proteolytic cleavage of the proenzyme prothrombin resultsin the formation of thrombin, which cleaves off the fibrinopeptides Aand B from the fibrinogen. In this way, fibrinogen is transformed intoits biologically active form. Fibrin and fibrin cleavage products aregenerated.

Thrombin is formed whenever blood coagulation is activated, i.e. withdamage to the tissue, be it of inflammatory, traumatic or degenerativegenesis. The formation of fibrin as mediated by thrombin is basically aprotective process aimed at quickly sealing any defects caused to thevascular system. However, the formation of fibrin also is a pathogenicprocess. The appearance of a fibrin thrombus as the triggering cause ofcardiac infarction is one of the most prominent problems in humanmedicine.

The role which fibrin plays during the extravasation of inflammatorycells from the bloodstream into the tissue, which, on the one hand, is adesired process for the defense against pathogenic microorganisms ortumor cells in the tissue, but, on the other hand, is a process which,by itself, induces or prolongs damage done to the tissue, has so far notbeen examined at all or not to a sufficient extent. Fibrin binds toendothelial cells via its neo-N-terminus of Bbeta by means of thesequence to Bbeta and to cells in the bloodstream by means of thesequence Aalpha, thereby leading to the adhesion and transmigration ofcells into the tissue.

By way of the mechanism described above the peptides or proteinsaccording to the invention may prevent the adhesion of cells from thebloodstream to endothelial cells of the vascular wall and/or theirsubsequent transmigration from the blood into the tissue.

One of the principal abnormalities associated with acute inflammatorydisease is the loss of endothelial barrier function. Structural andfunctional integrity of the endothelium is required for maintenance ofbarrier function and if either of these is compromised, solutes andexcess plasma fluid leak through the monolayer, resulting in tissueoedema and migration of inflammatory cells. Many agents increasemonolayer permeability by triggering endothelial cell shape changes suchas contraction or retraction, leading to the formation of intercellulargaps (Lum & Malik, Am. J. Physiol. 267: L223-L241 (1994). These agentsinclude e.g thrombin, brakykinin and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF).

Hyperpermeability of the blood vessel wall permits leakage of excessfluids and protein into the interstitial space. This acute inflammatoryevent is frequently allied with tissue ischemia and acute organdysfunction. Thrombin formed at sites of activated endothelial cells(EC) initiates this microvessel barrier dysfunction due to the formationof large paracellular holes between adjacent EC (Carbajal et al, Am JPhysiol Cell Physiol 279: C195-C204, 2000). This process featureschanges in EC shape due to myosin light chain phosphorylation (MLCP)that initiates the development of F-actin-dependent cytoskeletalcontractile tension (Garcia et al, J Cell Physiol. 1995; 163:510-522 Lum& Malik, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 273(5): H2442-H2451. (1997).

Thrombin-induced endothelial hyperpermeability may also be mediated bychanges in cell-cell adhesion (Dejana J. Clin. Invest. 98: 1949-1953(1996). Endothelial cell-cell adhesion is determined primarily by thefunction of vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin (cadherin 5), aCa-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule that forms adherens junctions.Cadherin 5 function is regulated from the cytoplasmic side throughassociation with the accessory proteins b-catenin, plakoglobin(g-catenin), and p120 that are linked, in turn, to a-catenin (homologousto vinculin) and the F-actin cytoskeleton.

VE-cadherin has emerged as an adhesion molecule that plays fundamentalroles in microvascular permeability and in the morphogenic andproliferative events associated with angiogenesis (Vincent et al, Am JPhysiol Cell Physiol, 286(5): C987-C997 (2004). Like other cadherins,VE-cadherin mediates calcium-dependent, homophilic adhesion andfunctions as a plasma membrane attachment site for the cytoskeleton.However, VE-cadherin is integrated into signaling pathways and cellularsystems uniquely important to the vascular endothelium. Recent advancesin endothelial cell biology and physiology reveal properties ofVE-cadherin that may be unique among members of the cadherin family ofadhesion molecules. For these reasons, VE-cadherin represents a cadherinthat is both prototypical of the cadherin family and yet unique infunction and physiological relevance. A number of excellent reviews haveaddressed the contributions of VE-cadherin to vascular barrier function,angiogenesis, and cardiovascular physiology.

Evidence is accumulating that the VE-cadherin-mediated cell-celladhesion is controlled by a dynamic balance between phosphorylation anddephosphorylation of the junctional proteins including cadherins andcatenins. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of b-catenin resulted in adissociation of the catenin from cadherin and from the cytoskeleton,leading to a weak adherens junction (AJ). Similarly, tyrosinephosphorylation of VE-cadherin and b-catenin occurred in loose AJ andwas notably reduced in tightly confluent monolayers (Tinsley et al., JBiol Chem, 274, 24930-24934 (1999).

In addition the correct clustering of VE-cadherin monomers in adherensjunctions is indispensable for a correct signalling activity ofVE-cadherin, since cell bearing a chimeric mutant (IL2-VE) containing afull-length VE-cadherin cytoplasmic tail is unable to cause a correctsignalling despite its ability to bind to beta-catenin and p120(Lampugnani et al, Mol. Biol. of the Cell, 13, 1175-1189 (2002).

Rho GTPases are a family of small GTPases with profound actions on theactin cytoskeleton of cells. With respect to the functioning of thevascular system they are involved in the regulation of cell shape, cellcontraction, cell motility and cell adhesion. The three most prominentfamily members of the Rho GTPases are RhoA, Rac and cdc42. Activation ofRhoA induces the formation of f-actin stress fibres in the cell, whileRac and cdc42 affect the actin cytoskeleton by inducing membrane rufflesand microspikes, respectively (Hall, Science, 279:509-514.1998). WhileRac and cdc42 can affect MLCK activity to a limited extent viaactivation of protein PAK (Goeckeler et al. J. Biol. Chem., 275, 24,18366-18374 (2000), RhoA has a prominent stimulatory effect onactin-myosin interaction by its ability to stabilize the phosphorylatedstate of MLC (Katoh et al., Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Physiol. 280,C1669-C1679 (2001). This occurs by activation of Rho kinase that in itsturn inhibits the phosphatase PP1M that hydrolyses phosphorylated MLC.In addition, Rho kinase inhibits the actin-severing action of cofilinand thus stabilizes f-actin fibres (Toshima et al., Mol. Biol. of theCell. 12, 1131-1145 (2001). Furthermore, Rho kinase can also be involvedin anchoring the actin cytoskeleton to proteins in the plasma membraneand thus may potentially act on the interaction between junctionalproteins and the actin cytoskeleton (Fukata et al. Cell Biol 145:347-361(1999).

Thrombin can activate RhoA via Gα12/13 and a so-called guaninenucleotide exchange factor (GEF) (Seasholtz et al; Mol: Pharmacol. 55,949-956 (1999). The GEF exchanges RhoA-bound GDP for GTP, by which RhoAbecomes active. By this activation RhoA is translocated to the membrane,where it binds by its lipophilic geranyl-geranyl-anchor.

RhoA can be activated by a number of vasoactive agents, includinglysophosphatidic acid, thrombin and endothelin. The membrane bound RhoAis dissociated from the membrane by the action of a guanine dissociationinhibitor (GDI) or after the action of a GTPase-activating protein(GAP). The guanine dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) are regulatoryproteins that bind to the carboxyl terminus of RhoA.

GDIs inhibit the activity of RhoA by retarding the dissociation of GDPand detaching active RhoA from the plasma membrane. Thrombin directlyactivates RhoA in human endothelial cells and induces translocation ofRhoA to the plasma membrane. Under the same conditions the relatedGTPase Rac was not activated. Specific inhibition of RhoA by C3transferase from Clostridium botulinum reduced the thrombin-inducedincrease in endothelial MLC phosphorylation and permeability, but didnot affect the transient histamine-dependent increase in permeability(van Nieuw Amerongen et al. Circ Res. 1998; 83:1115-11231 (1998). Theeffect of RhoA appears to be mediated via Rho kinase, because thespecific Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 similarly reduced thrombin-inducedendothelial permeability.

Rac1 and RhoA have antagonistic effects on endothelial barrier function.Acute hypoxia inhibits Rac1 and activates RhoA in normal adult pulmonaryartery endothelial cells (PAECs), which leads to a breakdown of barrierfunction (Wojciak-Stothard and Ridley, Vascul Pharmacol., 39:187-99(2002). PAECs from piglets with chronic hypoxia induced pulmonaryhypertension have a stable abnormal phenotype with a sustained reductionin Rac1 and an increase in RhoA activitity. These activities correlatewith changes in the endothelial cytoskeleton, adherens junctions andpermeability. Activation of Rac1 as well as inhibition of RhoA restoredthe abnormal phenotype and permeability to normal (Wojciak-Stothard etal., Am. J. Physiol, Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 290, L1173-L1182 (2006).

Substances that active Rac1 and reduce RhoA activity to a level that isobserved in endothelial cells in normal and stable conditions cantherefore be expected to reduce endothelial hyperpermeability and have abeneficial therapeutic effect in a number of diseases. Preferably thiseffect is caused by a stabilization of the clustering of VE-cadherin inthe adherens junction. An important component of the intracellularcomplex of proteins linked to VE-cadherin is fyn, a kinase which is amember of the src tyrosine kinases. The binding of the compounds whichare subject to this invention to VE-cadherin cause a dissociation of fynfrom VE-cadherin, which in turn leads to deactivation of thrombininduced active RhoA.

WO9216221 describes polypeptides which are covalently linked tolong-chain polymers, as for instance methoxy-polyethylene glycol (PEG).The binding of polypeptides to such polymers frequently results in aprolongation of the biological half-life of these polypeptides anddelays their renal excretion. A summary of these properties may be foundin Davis et al., Polymeric Materials Pharmaceuticals for Biomedical Use,pp. 441-451 (1980) The addition of PEG-groups exerts this effect in away proportional to the molecular weight of the PEGylated peptide, as,up to a certain size of the molecule, the glomular filtration rate isinversely proportional to the molecular weight.

WO2004/101600 also describes new poly(ethylene glycol)-modifiedcompounds and their use, in particular with emphasis on modifiedpeptides activating the erythropoietin receptor. Further examples forthe covalent modification of peptides and proteins PEG residues areinterleukins (Knauf et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1988, 263, 15064; Tsutumi etal., J. Controlled Release 1995, 33, 447), Interferons (Kita et al.,Drug Delivery Res. 1990, 6 157), Catalase (Abuchowski et al., J. Biol.Chem. 1997, 252, 3582). A review of the prior art may be found in Reddy,Ann. of Pharmacotherapy, 2000, 34, 915.

A prolonged biological half-life is advantageous for various therapeuticuses of peptides. This is in particular true in cases of chronicdiseases where the administration of the active agent over a prolongedperiod of time is indicated. With such indications this may improve thepatient's compliance, as applying the active agent once a day will forinstance be accepted more easily than continuous infusion. Apart fromincreasing the molecular mass by covalent modification, a prolongationof the persistency of polypeptides may be obtained by modifying them insuch a way that their degradation by proteolytic enzymes (e.g. exo- orendoproteases or peptidases) is prevented.

Using various examples it has been shown that it is necessary tocustomize the appropriate modification for each peptide so as to preventa significant influence on the pharmacodynamic effect as compared to theunmodified peptide. In this context the following may be referred to:Calcitonin (Lee et al. Pharm. Res. 1999, 16, 813), Growth HormoneReleasing Hormone (Esposito et al., Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews,2003, 55, 1279), Glucagon like peptide 1 (Lee et al., Bioconjugate Res.2005, 16, 377), as well as the growth hormone-receptor antagonistPegvisomant (Ross et al., J. Clin. Endocrin. Metab. 2001, 86, 1716). Thereviews by Caliceti and Veronese (Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 2003, 55 1261)and by Harris and Chess (Nature Rev. Drug Discovery 2003, 2, 214)discuss that in case of designing peptide- or protein-PEG-conjugates itis necessary to take into consideration the structure of the originalsubstance, the molecular weight of the peptide and the polymer, thenumber of conjugated polymer chains as well as the linker chemistry, soas to obtain an effective peptide-PEG-conjugate.

Surprisingly it has now been found that peptides and peptidomimeticsderived from the chain of the Bbeta(15-42)fibrin fragment, in which oneor amino acids have been removed and which instead contain an amino acidor a peptidomimetic element promoting a bend or turn in the peptidebackbone, as well as derivatives modified at the C-terminal end of thepeptide sequence also have strong anti-inflammatory and endotheliumstabilizing effects. The same applies to peptides, peptidomimetics andderivatives thereof, the modification of which prevents theirdestruction by proteases or peptidases, as well as topeptide-PEG-conjugates and peptidomimetic-PEG-conjugates generallyderived from the basic sequence of the Bbeta(15-42)fibrin fragmentcontaining such turn-inducing elements

Thus the invention relates peptidomimetics which are derived from thechain of the Bbeta(15-42)-fibrin fragment and wherein one or several ofthe amino acids of the sequence have been omitted and certain otheramino acids residues of this chain substituted by genetically encoded ornot genetically encoded amino acids or peptidomimetics, which have theproperty of inducing a bend or turn in the peptide backbone. They mayexist as free peptides or may be modified at the C-terminal end and/orbeing linked to a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polymer, and haveanti-inflammatory and/or endothelium stabilizing effects. Esters oramides may for instance be taken into consideration as C-terminalderivatives.

The inventive compounds may have conservative substitutions of aminoacids as compared to the natural sequence of fibrin of the warm bloodedanimals to be treated in one or several positions. A conservativesubstitution is defined as the side chain of the respective amino acidbeing replaced by a side chain of similar chemical structure andpolarity, the side chain being derived from a genetically coded or notgenetically coded amino acid. Families of amino acids of this kindhaving similar side chains are known in the art. They comprise forinstance amino acids having basic side chains (lysins, arginins,histidine), acidic side chains (aspartic acid, glutamic acid), unchargedpolar side chains (glycine, aspartamic acid, glutamine, serine,threonine, tyrosine, cysteine), non-polar side chains (alanine, valine,leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan),beta-branched side chains (threonine, valine, isoleucine) and aromaticside chains (tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophane, histidine). Suchconservative substitutions of side chains may preferably be carried outin non-essential positions. In this context, an essential position inthe sequence is one wherein the side chain of the relevant amino acid isof significance for its biological effect.

The invention in particular concerns peptides, peptidomimetics andderivatives thereof of the following general formula I:

H₂N-GHRPX₁-β-X₄X₅X₆X₇X₈X₉X₁₀-X₁₁ (I),in which

-   X₁-X₁₀ denote one of the 20 genetically coded amino acids, wherein    X₈, X₉ and X₁₀ individually or jointly may also denote a single    chemical bond and in which X₄ and X₅ may denote a suitable spacer of    a lengths similar to 2 amino acid residues and X₁ may also denote a    single chemical bond-   X₁₁ denotes OR₁ in which R₁ equals hydrogen or (C₁-C₁₀) alkyl, NR₂R₃    with R₂ and R₃ are equal or different and denote hydrogen, (C₁-C₁₀)    alkyl or a residue    -   —W-PEG_(5-60K), in which the PEG residue is attached via a        suitable spacer W to the N-atom, or    -   a residue    -   NH—Y-Z-PEG_(5-60K),    -   in which    -   Y denotes a single chemical bond or a genetically coded amino        acids from the group S, C, K or R and in which    -   Z denotes a spacer, via which a polyethylene glycol        (PEG)-residue can be attached, as well as their physiologically        acceptable salts,    -   and in which additionally-   β denotes an amino acid, whether genetically coded or not, or a    peptidomimetic element, which have the additional property of    inducing a bend or turn in the peptide backbone. Such amino acids    include without limitation L-proline, D-proline, L-hydroxyproline,    D-hydroxyproline, L-(O-benzyl)-hydroxyproline,    D-(O-benzyl)-hydroxyproline, L-(O-tert. butyl)-hydroxyproline,    4-(O-2-naphtyl)-hydroxyproline,    4-(O-2-naphtyl-methyl)-hydroxyproline, 4-(O-phenyl)-hydroxyproline,    4-(4-phenyl-benzyl)-proline, cis-3-phenyl-proline,    cis-4-phenyl-proline, trans-4-phenyl-proline, cis-5-phenyl-proline,    trans-5-phenyl-proline, 4-benzyl-proline, 4-bromobenzyl-proline,    4-cyclohexyl-proline, 4-fluor-proline,    L-tetrahydroisoquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (L-Tic), all    diastereomers of octahydro-indole-2-carboxylic acid (Oic), and all    diastereomers of 1-aza-bicyclo[3,3,0]octane-2-carboxylic acid.    Additional amino acids having the turn-inducing property are know to    one skilled in the art and are compounds of formula I containing    them also subject of this invention.

Peptidomimetic elements pertaining to this invention are residues, whichare able to replace one or several amino acids of a peptide chain andwhich also have the additional property of inducing a bend or turn inthe peptide backbone. Several such residues have for instance beendescribed in the patent application WO2005/056577, in which they wereused for the preparation of peptidic HIV inhibitors.

A selection of useful peptidomimetic elements for the purpose of thisinvention are, without limitation the following:

cis-2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (cis-Acpc)

(1R,2R)-(2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid ((1R,2R)-Acpc)

(1S,2S)-(2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid ((1S,2S)-Acpc)

1-aminomethyl-cyclohexane acetic acid (1-Achc)

3-amino-1-carboxymethyl-pyridin-2-one (Acpo)

1-amino-cyclobutane-carboxylic acid (1-Acbc)

1-amino-cyclohexane-carboxylic acid (1-Achc)

cis-4-amino-cyclohexane-acetic acid (4-Acha)

(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1R,2R)-Achc)

(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1R,2S)-Achc)

(1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1S,2R)-Achc)

(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1S,2S)-Achc)

1-amino-cyclopentane carboxylic acid (1-Acpec)

1-amino-cyclopropane carboxylic acid (1-Acprc)

4-(2-aminoethyl)-6-dibenzofuranpropionic acid (Aedfp)

(R,S)-1-aminoindane-1-carboxylic acid (1-Aic)

2-aminoindane-2-carboxylic acid (2-Aic)

2′-(aminomethyl)-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (Ambc)

2-aminomethyl-phenylacetic acid (Ampa)

3-amino-2-naphthoic acid (Anc)

4-amino-tetrahydropyran-4-carboxylic acid (Atpc)

(R,S)-2-aminotetraline-2-carboxylic acid (2-Atc)

(2S,6S,9S)-6-amino-2-carboxymethyl-3,8-diazabicyclo-[4,3,0]-nonane-1,4-dione(Acdn)

(R)-3-amino-5-carboxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one(Acbt)

(S)-3-amino-5-carboxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzoxazepin-4(5H)-one(Acbo)

(R,S)-3-amino-1-carboxymethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-[1]-benzazepin-2-one(1-Acmb)

(S)-4-amino-2-carboxymethyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2H-[2]-benzazepin-3-one(2-Acmb)

(R,S)-3-amino-1-carboxymethyl-valerolactame (Acmv)

3-(2-aminoethyl)-1-carboxymethyl-quinazoline-2,4-dione (Acq)

(2S,5S)-5-amino-1,2,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-azepino[3,2,1-hi]-indole-4-one-2-carboxylicacid (Haic)

(R,S)-3-amino-N-1-carboxymethyl-2-oxo-5-cyclohexyl-1,4-benzodiazepine(Accb)

(R,S)-3-amino-N-1-carboxymethyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1,4-benzodiazepine (Acpb)

(2S,11aS)-2-amino-10-carboxymethyl-1,2,3,11a-tetrahydro-10H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]-benzodiazepine-5,11-dione(PBD)

(2S,3′S)-2-(4′-(3′-benzyl-2′-oxo-piperazin-1-yl))-3-phenyl-propionicacid (Bppp)

3-carboxymethyl-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one (Cptd)

(R,S)-3-amino-9-Boc-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-carbazole-3-carboxylic acid (Thc)

3-exo-amino-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-exo-carboxylic acid (Abhc)

(3S)-3-Amino-1-carboxymethyl-caprolactam (Accl)

(S,S)-(ProLeu)spirolactamePhe (PLSP)

2-Oxo-3-amino-7-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane-9-carboxylich acid (BTD)

Preferred subject of this invention are compounds of the general formulaI, in which:

-   X₁ denotes L, I, S, M or A, or a single, chemical bond-   X₄ denotes L, I, S, M or A,-   X₂ denotes E or D,-   X₃ denotes R or K-   X₅, X₆, X₇ denote A, G, S, or L-   X₄ and X₅ jointly denote a suitable spacer of a similar chain length    as 2 amino acid residues-   X₈ denotes G, A or L or a single chemical bond,-   X₉ denotes Y, F, H or a single chemical bond-   X₁₀ denotes R, K or a single chemical bond and in which-   β and X₁₁ have the meaning described above-   as well as their physiologically acceptable salts.

Especially preferred subject of this invention are compounds of thegeneral formula II,

H₂N-GHRPX₁-β-X₄X₅GGX₈X₉X₁₀- X₁₁ (II),in which

-   X₁ denotes either L, I, A or a single chemical bond-   X₄ denotes L, I, S, M or A,-   X₅ denote A, G, S, or L, or-   X₄ and X₅ jointly denote a suitable spacer of a similar chain length    as 2 amino acid residues,-   X₈, X₉, X₁₀ and X₁₁ have the meaning described above for formula I    and their physiologically acceptable salts.

Most highly preferred subjects of the invention are compounds of thegeneral formula II, in which

-   X₁ denotes either L, I, A or a single chemical bond-   X₄ denotes I-   X₅ denotes S,-   X₁₁ denotes OH, OR₂ or NR₂R₃, where R₂ and R₃ are equal or different    and denote hydrogen or (C₁-C₁₀) alkyl, or a residue    C(NR₂R₃)—(S-succinimido)-(PEG_(5-40K)), in which the succinimide    residue is linked to the sulphur atom of the cysteine residue via    carbon atom 3 of the succinimide ring,    as well as their physiologically acceptable salts.

In the above formulas I and II the following letters represent aminoacid residues in accordance with the general annotation for proteins andpeptides: pPhenylalanine is F, leucine is L, isoleucine is I, methionineis M, valine is V, serine is S, proline is P, threonine is T, alanine isA, tyrosine is Y, histidine is H, glutamine is Q, asparagine is N,lysine is K, aspartic acid is D, glutamic acid is E, cysteine is C,tryptophan is W, arginine is R, glycine is G.

The amino acid residues in the compounds of Formula I may either bepresent in their D or their L configuration.

The term peptide refers to a polymer of these amino acids, which arelinked via an amide linkage.

“Physiologically acceptable” means that salts are formed with acids orbases the addition of which does not have undesirable effects when usedfor humans. Preferable are salts with acids or bases the use of which islisted for use with warm blooded animals, in particular humans, in theUS Pharmacopoeia or any other generally recognized pharmacopoeia.

PEG stands for a polyethylene glycol residue having a molecular weightof between 5.000 and 60.000 Dalton, this molecular weight being themaximum of a molecular weight distribution, so that individualcomponents of the mixture may have a higher or lower molecular weight.

The invention furthermore concerns processes for the production of thepeptides and peptide derivatives of general Formula (I), characterizedin that, either

-   -   (A) the first amino acid at the C-terminal end of the respective        sequence is linked to a polymeric resin via a suitable cleavable        spacer, the subsequent amino acids or peptidomimetic elements,        optionally containing suitable protective groups for functional        groups, are linked step by step according to methods known in        the art, the finished peptide is cleaved off the polymeric resin        according to suitable methods known in the art, the protective        groups, if present, are cleaved off by suitable methods and the        peptide or peptide derivative is purified according to suitable        methods, or    -   (B) a PEG-group having a desired molecular weight is linked to a        polymeric resin via a suitable spacer, the first amino acid at        the N-terminal end of the peptide is linked using suitable        methods, the remaining steps being the same as described in (A),        or    -   (C) a lysine residue, containing a suitable protective group at        the ε-amino group is linked to a suitable polymeric resin via a        suitable spacer using suitable methods, the peptide chain is        synthesized as described in (A), following cleavage from the        polymeric resin and purification, if necessary, the protective        group at the ε-amino group is cleaved off using suitable        methods, a PEG group having a desired molecular weight is linked        to the ε-amino group using a suitable activated reagent, the        optionally remaining protective groups are cleaved off and the        final product is purified using suitable methods, or    -   (D) a peptide containing a cysteine residue is reacted with a        PEG-maleimide to form compounds of Formula (II).

Suitable processing steps following (A), (B) or (C) as well as suitablereagents are for instance described in document WO 2004/101600.

Embodiments of the respective processing steps are not new per se andwill be clear to an experienced specialist in the field of organicsynthesis.

Processes for linking a PEG-residue to a peptide chain will be known tothe skilled artisan. For instance, a cysteine (C)-residue may be reactedwith PEG-maleimide, resulting in a succinimide residue as spacer forresidue Z. A further possibility is reacting an optionally activatedC-terminal carboxy residue with an aminoalkyl-substituted PEG residue. Afurther possibility is the introduction of a PEG residue by reacting analdehyde-substituted PEG residue with the ε-amino function of a lysineresidue. Activated PEG reagents having suitable spacers and reactivegroups may for instance be obtained from NOF Corporation (Tokyo, Japan).

The substances according to the invention and the use of the substancesaccording to the invention for the production of a pharmaceutical drugare of particular significance for the production of a pharmaceuticaldrug for the therapy of diseases resulting from the tissue-damagingeffect of white blood cells, or wherein the integrity and fullphysiological integrity of the layer of endothelial cells lining theblood vessels is impaired.

Diseases belonging to this group are those in context with autoimmunity,as for instance collagenosis, rheumatic diseases, inflammatory boweldiseases like Morbus Crohn or Colitis ulcerosa, psoriasis and psoriaticrheumatoid arthritis, and post/parainfectious diseases as well asdiseases caused by a graft-versus-host reaction. A healing effect takesplace as this medical drug blocks the migration of the white blood cellsinto the tissue. Thus the white blood cells remain in the blood streamand cannot cause an autoreactive effect harmful to the tissue. Thiseffect of the inventive substances is furthermore important for thetreatment of shock conditions, in particular in case of septic shocktriggered by infection with gram-positive or gram-negative bacterialpathogens as well as viral infections and haemorrhagic shock caused byheavy loss of blood because of severe injuries or bacterial or viralinfections.

The inventive substances may generally be used in situations that can bedescribed with the terms “Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome(SIRS)”, “Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)”, “Capillary LeakSyndrome (CLS)” and organ- or multiorgan failure, respectively.

Associated with a pharmaceutical drug for the therapy and/or preventionof rejection reactions of organ transplants there is a healing effect asthis pharmaceutical drug prevents the migration of white blood cellsfrom the blood stream into the donor organ, and the donor organ cantherefore not be destroyed for instance by autoreactive lymphocytes.

Associated with a pharmaceutical drug for the therapy and/or preventionof arteriosclerosis there is a healing and/or preventive effect as thispharmaceutical drug blocks the migration of lymphocytes and monocytesinto the wall of the tissue and thus the activation of the cells of thetissue wall. Thus the progress of arteriosclerosis is minimized orstopped, the progredience of arteriosclerotic plaque resulting therefromis inhibited, causing the arteriosclerosis to recede.

Associated with a pharmaceutical drug for the therapy and/or preventionof reperfusion trauma following surgically or pharmaceutically inducedre-supply with blood, e.g. following percutaneous coronary intervention,stroke, vessel surgery, cardiac bypass surgery and organ transplants,there is a healing and/or preventive effect as this pharmaceutical druginhibits the migration of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes intothe wall of the vessel. Reperfusion trauma is caused by a lack ofoxygen/acidosis of the cells of the vessel during its re-supply withblood, leading to their activation and/or damage. Because of this,lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes adhere to the vessel wall andmigrate into it. Blocking the adherence and migration of lymphocytes,neutrophils and monocytes in the vessel wall causes thehypoxy/acidosis-induced damage to abate, without the subsequentinflammatory reaction causing a permanent damage to the vessel. Theendothelium-stabilizing effect of the inventive compounds furthermoreprevents the formation of oedemas as well as any further damage to theorgans supplied via the respective blood vessels.

Associated with a pharmaceutical drug for the therapy and/or preventionof arteriosclerosis as a consequence of metabolic diseases or theprocess of aging, there is a healing and/or preventive effect as thispharmaceutical drug inhibits the migration of lymphocytes, neutrophilsand monocytes into the vessel wall, thus inhibiting the progredience ofarteriosclerotic plaque resulting therefrom.

The pharmaceutical drug according to the invention may also be used forthe transportation of another drug. The inventive drug specificallybinds a surface molecule on endothelial cells. Thus drugs linked theretomay be delivered to endothelial cells in high concentrations without anydanger of them having side effects at other sites. An example that maybe cited here is the use of substances inhibiting the division of cells,which, specifically brought to endothelial cells, may have anantiangiogenetic effect. This brings about a healing effect in tumorpatients, as tumor growth is blocked by preventing the proliferation ofendothelial cells and thus by preventing neoangiogenesis. The inventivecompounds themselves may also develop an antiangiogenetic effect, asthey, because of their endothelium-stabilizing effect, prevent theendothelial cells from changing into a proliferative phenotype and thusprevent the formation of new capillary blood vessels. Therefore they arethemselves suitable for the treatment of all kinds of tumor diseases aswell as the prevention and/or treatment of tumor metastases.

The inventive compounds of Formula (I) together with pharmaceuticaladjuvants and additives, may be formulated into pharmaceuticalpreparations which also are a subject matter of the present invention.In order to prepare such formulations a therapeutically effective doseof the peptide or peptide derivative is mixed with pharmaceuticallyacceptable diluents, stabilizers, solubilizers, emulsifying aids,adjuvants or carriers and brought into a suitable therapeutic form. Suchpreparations for instance contain a dilution of various buffers (e.g.Tris-HCl, acetate, phosphate) of different pH and ionic strength,detergents and solubilizers (e.g. Tween 80, Polysorbat 80), antioxidants(e.g. ascorbic acid), and fillers (e.g. lactose, mannitol). Theseformulations may influence the biological availability and the metabolicbehavior of the active agents.

The pharmaceutical preparations according to the invention may beadministered orally, parenterally (intramuscularly, intraperitoneally,intravenously or subcutaneously), transdermally or in an erodibleimplant of a suitable biologically degradable polymer (e.g. polylactateor polyglycolate).

The effectiveness of the compounds according to this invention withrespect to the prevention of RhoA activation and consequentially thechange in the cytoskeletal structure of the endothelial cells may forinstance be demonstrated by a method comprising the steps of:

-   -   a. contacting a confluent layer of cultured endothelial cells        with thrombin in the presence of at least one of the test        compounds    -   b. lysing the endothelial cells with a lysation buffer    -   c. measuring the RhoA activity with a specific assay,        preferentially a so-called “pull down assay”.

The effectiveness in vivo may for instance be established using a modelof acute pulmonitis in a rodent. The acute pulmonitis is for instancecaused in mice by the intratracheal instillation of bacteriallipopolysaccharide (LPS). The effect of the active substance is measuredby measuring the amount of Evans' Blue injected into the animal inpulmonary lavage or by measuring the number of extravasated leukocytesin lung lavage fluid. The inventive compounds show an effect at a doseranging from 0.001 mg/kg body weight to 500 mg/kg body weight,preferably at a dose ranging from 0.1 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg.

A further possibility for establishing the biological effect in vivo isthe reduction or complete suppression of mortality because of aninfection with haemolytic viruses or bacteria. For this purpose, miceare for instance infected with a dose of Dengue viruses, wherein 50% ofthe animals die within a period of 5-20 days after infection. Theinventive compounds bring about a reduction of this mortality at a doseranging from 0.001 to 500 mg/kg body weight, preferably at a doseranging from 0.1 to 50 mg/g body weight.

The following examples serve to illustrate the invention withoutlimiting it to the examples.

General Preparation and Purification of Peptides According to theInvention

The preparation and purification of the above peptide derivativesgenerally takes place by way of FMOC-strategy on acid-labile resinsupports using a commercially available batch peptide synthesizer asalso described in the literature (e.g. “solid phase peptide synthesis—Apractical approach” by E. Atherton, R. C. Sheppard, Oxford Universitypress 1989). N-alpha-FMOC-protected derivatives, the functionalside-chains of which are protected by acid-sensitive protective groups,are used as amino acid components. Unless otherwise stated, purificationis carried out by means of RP-chromatography using a water/acetonitrilegradient and 0.1% TFA as ion pair reagent.

EXAMPLE 1

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1S, 2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

100 mg Tentagel (Rapp Polymere) with FMOC-Gly as the first amino acid of0.24 mmol/g are transferred to a commercially available peptidesynthesis device (PSMM(Shimadzu)), wherein the peptide sequence isconstructed step-by-step according to the carbodiimide/HOBt method.

The FMOC-amino acid derivatives are pre-activated by adding a 5-foldequimolar excess of di-isopropy-carbodiimide (DIC),di-isopropy-ethylamine (DIPEA) und hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and,following their transfer into the reaction vessel, mixed with the resinsupport for 30 minutes. Washing steps are carried out by 5 additions of900 μl DMF and thorough mixing for 1 minute. Cleavage steps are carriedout by the addition of 3×900 μl 30% piperidine in DMF and thoroughmixing for 4 minutes.

Removal of the individual reaction and wash solutions is effected byforcing the solutions through the bottom frit of the reaction vessel.

The amino acid derivatives FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly, FMOC-His(Trt),FMOC-Ile, FMOC-(1S,2R)-Achc, FMOC-Pro and FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS) areemployed.

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid. The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on KromasilRP-18 250-20, 10 μm in 0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrilein 40 minutes at a flow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluateby means of a UV detector at 215 nm. The purity of the individualfractions is determined by analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry.Following combination of the purified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mgof pure product are obtained Maldi-TOF, 909.05 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 2

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Acdn, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 989.05 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 3

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(cis-4-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-cis-4-Acha, FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, m/z 929.05 (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 4

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Haic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-Haic, FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 998.10 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 5

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1S, 2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

100 mg Tentagel (Rapp Polymere) with FMOC-Gly as the first amino acid of0.24 mmol/g are transferred to a commercially available peptidesynthesis device (PSMM(Shimadzu)), wherein the peptide sequence isconstructed step-by-step according to the carbodiimide/HOBt method.

The FMOC-amino acid derivatives are pre-activated by adding a 5-foldequimolar excess of di-isopropy-carbodiimide (DIC),di-isopropy-ethylamine (DIPEA) und hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and,following their transfer into the reaction vessel, mixed with the resinsupport for 30 minutes. Washing steps are carried out by 5 additions of900 μl DMF and thorough mixing for 1 minute. Cleavage steps are carriedout by the addition of 3×900 μl 30% piperidine in DMF and thoroughmixing for 4 minutes.

Removal of the individual reaction and wash solutions is effected byforcing the solutions through the bottom frit of the reaction vessel.

The amino acid derivatives FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly, FMOC-His(Trt),FMOC-Leu, FMOC-Ile, FMOC-(1S,2R)-Achc, FMOC-Pro and FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS) are employed.

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid. The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on KromasilRP-18 250-20, 10 μm in 0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrilein 40 minutes at a flow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluateby means of a UV detector at 215 nm. The purity of the individualfractions is determined by analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry.Following combination of the purified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mgof pure product are obtained Maldi-TOF, 1023.67 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 6

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Leu, FMOC-Acdn, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 1103.67 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 7

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(cis-4-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Leu, FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-cis-4-Acha,FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 1043.22 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 8

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Haic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Leu, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-Haic, FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 1112.27 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 9

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-(1S, 2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

100 mg Tentagel (Rapp Polymere) with FMOC-Gly as the first amino acid of0.24 mmol/g are transferred to a commercially available peptidesynthesis device (PSMM(Shimadzu)), wherein the peptide sequence isconstructed step-by-step according to the carbodiimide/HOBt method.

The FMOC-amino acid derivatives are pre-activated by adding a 5-foldequimolar excess of di-isopropy-carbodiimide (DIC),di-isopropy-ethylamine (DIPEA) und hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and,following their transfer into the reaction vessel, mixed with the resinsupport for 30 minutes. Washing steps are carried out by 5 additions of900 μl DMF and thorough mixing for 1 minute. Cleavage steps are carriedout by the addition of 3×900 μl 30% piperidine in DMF and thoroughmixing for 4 minutes.

Removal of the individual reaction and wash solutions is effected byforcing the solutions through the bottom frit of the reaction vessel.

The amino acid derivatives FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly, FMOC-His(Trt),FMOC-Ala, FMOC-Ile, FMOC-(1S,2R)-Achc, FMOC-Pro and FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS) are employed.

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product are obtainedMaldi-TOF, 981.14 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 10

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Ala, FMOC-Acdn, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 1061.14 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 11

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-(cis-4-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-cis-4-Acha, FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 1043.28 m/z (m.i.).

EXAMPLE 12

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-Haic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Pro, FMOC-Haic, FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 1112.41 m/z (m.i.).

The following peptides peptidomimetics were prepared following thegeneral procedure described in Example 1 above, using the appropriateprotected building blocks:

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-D-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-hydroxyproline-Ile-Ser-Gly- GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-D-hydroxproline-Ile-Ser-Gly- GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-D-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-t-butyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-2-naphtyl-hydroxy- proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-2-naphtyl-methyl-hydroxy-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-phenyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-4-(4-pheny-benzyl-proline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(cis-3-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(cis-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(trans-4-phenyl-proline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(cis-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(trans-5-phenyl-proline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(4-benzyl-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(4-(4-bromobenzyl)-proline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(4-cyclohexyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(4-fluoro-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-Tic-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(SSS)-Oic-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(SSS)1-aza-bicyclo[3.3.0]bicyclooctan-carboxyl-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-cis-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1R,2R)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1S,2S)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acbc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-((1R,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-((1S,2R)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-((1S,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly- GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acpec)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acprc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Aedfp-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(2-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Ambc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Ampa-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Anc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Atpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(2-Atc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acbt-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acbo-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(2-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acmv-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acq-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Accb-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acpb-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-PBD-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-ppp-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Cptd-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Thc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-bhc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Accl-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-PLSP-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-BTD-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-His-Arg-Pro-D-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-hydroxyproline-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-D-hydroxproline-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-D-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-t-butyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-2-naphtyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-2-naphtyl-methyl-hydroxy- proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-phenyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-4-(4-pheny-benzyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(cis-3-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(cis-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(trans-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(cis-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(trans-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-benzyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly- GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-(4-bromobenzyl)-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-cyclohexyl-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-fluoro-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly- GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-Tic-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(SSS)-Oic-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(SSS)1-aza-bicyclo[3.3.0]bicyclo-octan-carboxyl-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-cis-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1R, 2R)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1S,2S)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acbc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-((1R,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-((1S,2R)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-((1S,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acpec)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acprc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Aedfp-I1e-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(2-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ambc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ampa-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Asp-Lys-Anc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Atpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(2-Atc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acbt-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acbo-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-(2-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acmv-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acq-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Accb-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpb-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-PBD-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Bppp-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Cptd-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Thc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Abhc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-Accl-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyGly-His-Arg-Pro-PLSP-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly Gly-His-Arg-Pro-BTD-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly

EXAMPLE 13

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1S, 2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂

100 mg Tentagel-S-RAM (Rapp-Polymere) at a load of 0.24 mmol/g aretransferred to a commercially available peptide synthesis device(PSMM(Shimadzu)), wherein the peptide sequence is constructedstep-by-step according to the carbodiimide/HOBt method.

The FMOC-amino acid derivatives are pre-activated by adding a 5-foldequimolar excess of di-isopropy-carbodiimide (DIC),di-isopropy-ethylamine (DIPEA) und hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) and,following their transfer into the reaction vessel, mixed with the resinsupport for 30 minutes. Washing steps are carried out by 5 additions of900 μl DMF and thorough mixing for 1 minute. Cleavage steps are carriedout by the addition of 3×900 μl 30% piperidine in DMF and thoroughmixing for 4 minutes.

Removal of the individual reaction and wash solutions is effected byforcing the solutions through the bottom frit of the reaction vessel.

The amino acid derivatives FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Gly, FMOC-His(Trt),FMOC-Ile, FMOC-(1S,2R)-Achc, and FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS) are employed.

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained, Molecular weight by mass spectrometry: 908.08 (MALDI-TOF)

EXAMPLE 14

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂

The solid phase synthesis of this compound was done according to thedescription in example 1; the amino acid and peptidomimetic derivativesemployed in the coupling steps were: FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Asp, FMOC-Gly,FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Leu, FMOC-Acdn, and FMOC-Ser(tBu)(NeoMPS).

When synthesis is completed the peptide resin is dried. The peptideamide is subsequently cleaved off by treatment with trifluoraceticacid/TIS/EDT/water (95:2:2:1 vol) for 2 hours at room temperature. Byway of filtration, concentration of the solution and precipitation bythe addition of ice-cold diethyl ether the crude product (75 mg) isobtained as a solid.

The peptide is purified by RP-HPLC on Kromasil RP-18 250-20, 10 μm in0.1% TFA with a gradient of 5 on 60% acetonitrile in 40 minutes at aflow rate of 12 ml/min and evaluation of the eluate by means of a UVdetector at 215 nm. The purity of the individual fractions is determinedby analyt. RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. Following combination of thepurified fractions and lyophilisation 48 mg of pure product areobtained. Maldi-TOF, 998.01 m/z (m.i.).

The following peptides peptidomimetics were prepared following thegeneral procedure described in Example 1 above, using the appropriateprotected building blocks:

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-D-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-hydroxyproline-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly- NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-D-hydroxproline-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-D-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-t-butyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-2-naphtyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-2-naphtyl-methyl-hydroxy-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-phenyl-hydroxyproline)- Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-4-(4-pheny-benzyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(cis-3-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(cis-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(trans-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(cis-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(trans-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-benzyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-(4-bromobenzyl)-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-L-(4-cyclohexyl-proline)-Ile- Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-L-(4-fluoro-proline)-Ile-Ser- Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Asp-Lys-L-Tic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly- Gly-Tyr-Arg-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(SSS)-Oic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(SSS)1-aza-bicyclo[3.3.0]bicyclo-octan-carboxyl-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-cis-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂ Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1R,2R)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-GlyNH₂ Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1S,2S)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly- NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-(1-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acbc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-(1-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂ Gly-His-Arg-Pro-((1R,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly- NH₂ Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Val-((1S,2R)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly-NH₂ Gly-His-Arg-Pro-((1S,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acpec)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acprc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Aedfp-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Val-(1-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(2-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-LeuAmbc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ampa-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-Anc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Atpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-(2-Atc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acbt-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acbo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(2-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acmv-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acq-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-Haic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Accb-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpb-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-PBD-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-Bppp-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Cptd-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Thc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Abhc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-Accl-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-PLSP-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂Gly-His-Arg-Pro-BTD-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-NH₂

EXAMPLE 15

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1S, 2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide

The monomeric peptide is synthesized as in Example 1, Tentagel (RappPolymere) being used as resin support here with FMOC-Cys(Trt) as thefirst amino acid.

FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Asp, FMOC-Gly, FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile,FMOC-(1S,2R)-Achc, and FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS)

After cleavage and purification of the peptide reaction is carried outwith a 2- to 8-fold molar excess of maleinimido-PEG_(20K). Followingrecovery purification is carried out on Kromasil RP-18, and the identityof the product is confirmed by way of analytical RP-HPLC and MALDI-MS.

EXAMPLE 16

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide

The monomeric peptide is synthesized as in Example 1, Tentagel (RappPolymere) being used as resin support here with FMOC-Cys(Trt) as thefirst amino acid.

FMOC-Arg(Pbf), FMOC-Asp, FMOC-Gly, FMOC-His(Trt), FMOC-Ile, FMOC-Acdn,and FMOC-Ser(tBu) (NeoMPS)

After cleavage and purification of the peptide reaction is carried outwith a 2- to 8-fold molar excess of maleinimido-PEG_(20K). Followingrecovery purification is carried out on Kromasil RP-18, and the identityof the product is confirmed by way of analytical RP-HPLC and MALDI-MS.

Using the appropriate building blocks, the following peptide andpeptidomimetic derivatives were prepared:

Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S- succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-D-Pro-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-hydroxyproline-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-D-hydroxproline-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-D-(O-benzyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(O-t-butyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-2-naphtyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-L-(O-2-naphtyl-methyl-hydroxy-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido- PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(O-phenyl-hydroxyproline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-4-(4-pheny-benzyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-L-(cis-3-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(cis-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-L-(trans-4-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))- amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(cis-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(trans-5-phenyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-benzyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-L-(4-(4-bromobenzyl)-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))- amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-cyclohexyl-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-L-(4-fluoro-proline)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-L-Tic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-(SSS)-Oic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-(SSS)1-aza-bicyclo[3.3.0]bicyclo-octan-carboxyl-Ile-Ser-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido- PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-cis-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1R,2R)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys- (S-succlnlmldo-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1S, 2S)-Acpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succlnlmldo-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acha)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Acbc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acpo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-(1-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-((1R,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly- Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-((1S, 2R)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-((1S,2S)-2-Achc)-Ile-Ser-Gly- Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acpec)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-(1-Acprc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Aedfp-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-(2-Aic)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ambc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Ampa-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Anc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Atpc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ile-(2-Atc)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acbt-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acbo-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-(1-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Lys-(2-Acmb)-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Acmv-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Acq-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Haic-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Accb-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-Acpb-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-PBD-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Bppp-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Cptd-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-Thc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-Abhc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Accl-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Ala-PLSP-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-BTD-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG_(20K))-amide Gly-His-Arg-Pro-(1S,2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys- (S-succinimido-PEG₃₀K)-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Leu-(1S, 2R)Achc-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S-succinimido-PEG₄₀K)-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S- succinimido-PEG₃₀K)-amideGly-His-Arg-Pro-Acdn-Ile-Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-(S- succinimido-PEG₄₀K)-amide

EXAMPLE 17

The biological effect of the compounds was established in a modelthrombin induced RhoA activation in human umbilical vein endothelialcell (HUVEC) culture.

HUVEC are grown to confluence under standard conditions. Beforeinduction of Rho activity HUVEC were starved for 4 h by using IMDM(Gibco) without growth factor and serum supplements. After thestarvation period 5 U/ml Thrombin (Calbiochem) or 5 U thrombin plus 50μg/ml of test compound are added to the starvation medium for 1, 5 and10 min. Active RhoA was isolated using Rho Assay Reagent from Upstateaccording to manufactures instructions. Isolates were separated on a 15%polyacrylamide gel and blotted on Nitrocellulose-Membrane (Bio-Rad).RhoA was detected by using Anti-Rho (-A, -B, -C), clone55 from Upstate(1:500).

Relative RhoA stimulation compared to unstimulated control

Control peptide 1 min 1 Control peptide 5 min 1 Control peptide 10 min 1thrombin 5 min 6.2 thrombin + compound example 1 (10 min) 2.2

1. Peptides, peptidomimetics and derivatives thereof of the followinggeneral formula I: H₂N-GHRPX₁-β-X₄X₅X₆X₇X₈X₉X₁₀-X₁₁ (SEQ ID NO: 1) (I),

in which X₁-X₁₀ denote one of the 20 genetically coded amino acids,wherein X₈, X₉ and X₁₀ individually or jointly may also denote a singlechemical bond and in which X₄ and X₅ may denote a suitable spacer of alengths similar to 2 amino acid residues and X₁ may also denote a singlechemical bond X₁₁ denotes OR₁ in which R₁ equals hydrogen or (C₁-C₁₀)alkyl, NR₂R₃ with R₂ and R₃ are equal or different and denote hydrogen,(C₁-C₁₀) alkyl or a residue —W-PEG_(5-60K), in which the PEG residue isattached via a suitable spacer W to the N-atom, or a residueNH—Y-Z-PEG_(5-60K), in which Y denotes a single chemical bond or agenetically coded amino acids from the group S, C, K or R and in which Zdenotes a spacer, via which a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-residue can beattached, as well as their physiologically acceptable salts, and inwhich additionally β denotes an amino acid, whether genetically coded ornot, or a peptidomimetic element, which have the additional property ofinducing a bend or turn in the peptide backbone, said amino acidsincluding without limitation L-proline, D-proline, L-hydroxyproline,D-hydroxyproline, L-(O-benzyl)-hydroxyproline,D-(O-benzyl)-hydroxyproline, L-(O-tert. butyl)-hydroxyproline,4-(O-2-naphtyl)-hydroxyproline, 4-(O-2-naphtyl-methyl)-hydroxyproline,4-(O-phenyl)-hydroxyproline, 4-(4-phenyl-benzyl)-proline,cis-3-phenyl-proline, cis-4-phenyl-proline, trans-4-phenyl-proline,cis-5-phenyl-proline, trans-5-phenyl-proline, 4-benzyl-proline,4-bromobenzyl-proline, 4-cyclohexyl-proline, 4-fluor-proline,L-tetrahydroisoquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (L-Tic), all diastereomers ofoctahydro-indole-2-carboxylic acid (Oic), and all diastereomers of1-aza-bicyclo[3,3,0]octane-2-carboxylic acid, wherein a selection ofuseful peptidomimetic elements are the following:

cis-2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (cis-Acpc)

(1R,2R)-(2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid ((1R,2R)-Acpc)

(1S,2S)-(2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid ((1S,2S)-Acpc)

1-aminomethyl-cyclohexane acetic acid (1-Achc)

3-amino-1-carboxymethyl-pyridin-2-one (Acpo)

1-amino-cyclobutane-carboxylic acid (1-Acbc)

1-amino-cyclohexane-carboxylic acid (1-Achc)

cis-4-amino-cyclohexane-acetic acid (4-Acha)

(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1R,2R)-Achc)

(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1R,2S)-Achc)

(1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1S,2R)-Achc)

(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ((1S,2S)-Achc)

1-amino-cyclopentane carboxylic acid (1-Acpec)

1-amino-cyclopropane carboxylic acid (1-Acprc)

4-(2-aminoethyl)-6-dibenzofuranpropionic acid (Aedfp)

(R,S)-1-aminoindane-1-carboxylic acid (1-Aic)

2-aminoindane-2-carboxylic acid (2-Aic)

2′-(aminomethyl)-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (Ambc)

2-aminomethyl-phenylacetic acid (Ampa)

3-amino-2-naphthoic acid (Anc)

4-amino-tetrahydropyran-4-carboxylic acid (Atpc)

(R,S)-2-aminotetraline-2-carboxylic acid (2-Atc)

(2S,6S,9S)-6-amino-2-carboxymethyl-3,8-diazabicyclo-[4,3,0]-nonane-1,4-dione(Acdn)

(R)-3-amino-5-carboxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepin-4(5H)-one(Acbt)

(S)-3-amino-5-carboxymethyl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzoxazepin-4(5H)-one(Acbo)

(R,S)-3-amino-1-carboxymethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-[1]-benzazepin-2-one(1-Acmb)

(S)-4-amino-2-carboxymethyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2H-[2]-benzazepin-3-one(2-Acmb)

(R,S)-3-amino-1-carboxymethyl-valerolactame (Acmv)

3-(2-aminoethyl)-1-carboxymethyl-quinazoline-2,4-dione (Acq)

(2S,5S)-5-amino-1,2,4,5,6,7-hexahydro-azepino[3,2,1-hi]-indole-4-one-2-carboxylicacid (Haic)

(R,S)-3-amino-N-1-carboxymethyl-2-oxo-5-cyclohexyl-1,4-benzodiazepine(Accb)

(R,S)-3-amino-N-1-carboxymethyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1,4-benzodiazepine (Acpb)

(2S,11aS)-2-amino-10-carboxymethyl-1,2,3,11a-tetrahydro-10H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]-benzodiazepine-5,11-dione(PBD)

(2S,3′S)-2-(4′-(3′-benzyl-2′-oxo-piperazin-1-yl))-3-phenyl-propionicacid (Bppp)

3-carboxymethyl-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one (Cptd)

(R,S)-3-amino-9-Boc-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-carbazole-3-carboxylic acid (Thc)

3-exo-amino-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-exo-carboxylic acid (Abhc)

(3S)-3-Amino-1-carboxymethyl-caprolactam (Accl)

(S,S)-(ProLeu)spirolactamePhe (PLSP)

2-Oxo-3-amino-7-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane-9-carboxylich acid (BTD)2. Peptides and peptidomimetics of the general formula I of claim 1, inwhich: X₁ denotes L, I, S, M or A, or a single, chemical bond X₄ denotesL, I, S, M or A, X₂ denotes E or D, X₃ denotes R or K X₅, X₆, X₇ denoteA, G, S, or L X₄ and X₅ jointly denote a suitable spacer of a similarchain length as 2 amino acid residues X₈ denotes G, A or L or a singlechemical bond, X₉ denotes Y, F, H or a single chemical bond X₁₀ denotesR, K or a single chemical bond and in which β and X₁₁ have the meaningdescribed above as well as their physiologically acceptable salts. 3.Peptides and peptidomimetics of the general formula II,H₂N-GHRPX₁-β-X₄X₅GGX₈X₉X₁₀-X₁₁ (SEQ ID NO: 2) (II),

in which X₁ denotes either L, I, A or a single chemical bond X₄ denotesL, I, S, M or A, X₅ denote A, G, S, or L, or X₄ and X₅ jointly denote asuitable spacer of a similar chain length as 2 amino acid residues, X₈,X₉, X₁₀ und X₁₁ have the meaning described above for formula I and theirphysiologically acceptable salts.
 4. Peptides and peptidomimetics of thegeneral formula II of claim 3, in which X₁ denotes either L, I, A or asingle chemical bond X₄ denotes I X₅ denotes S, X₁₁ denotes OH, OR₂ orNR₂R₃, where R₂ and R₃ are equal or different and denote hydrogen or(C₁-C₁₀) alkyl, or a residue C(NR₂R₃)—(S-succinimido)-(PEG_(5-40K)), inwhich the succinimide residue is linked to the sulphur atom of thecysteine residue via carbon atom 3 of the succinimide ring, as well astheir physiologically acceptable salts.